Inflatable bassinets



June 1967 R. F. VAN DEAN INFLATABLE BASSINBTS Filed 001;. 20, 1965lNl/ENTOR R.F. VAN DEAN BY v \OOOOOOOOOO O-OOOOQOOOJO ATTORNEY UnitedStates Patent C) Filed Oct. 20, 1965, Ser. No. 498,617 2 Claims. (Cl.5-98) This invention relates to sleeping enclosures for infants and,more particularly, to inflatable cribs or bassinets as portable infantsleeping accommodations.

Heretofore proposed portable cribs and bassinets have had thedisadvantages of being relatively heavy, bulky and difficult to handle,even when in the folded or collapsed condition. This is mainly due tothe rigid support members required to support the structure when in theerected condition. Moreover, the sharp, rigid members required for thesearticles sometimes become hazardous, not only to the infant in thebassinets, but also to others, adjacent to or attempting to manipulatethe article.

It is an object of the present invention to increase the ease with whichportable bassin-ets may be used and, at the same time, to reduce thehazards involved in such use.

It is another object of the invention to reduce the weight and bulk ofportable infant enclosures while at the same time to simplify theerection and use of such enclosures.

In accordance with the present invention, these and other objects areachieved in a unitary, inflatable infant enclosure of a size and shapesuitable to infant sleeping quarters. The sleeping enclosure inaccordance with the invention includes at least a base or bottom panel,forming the mattress for the infant to lie on, and side panels suitablefor completely or partially enclosing the bottom panel andtherebyenclosing the sleeping infant. In the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, the unitary structure also includes a sunshade orhood panel, together with supporting side panels, arranged to besupported above at least a portion of the bottom or mattress panel andthereby serving to block direct sunlight from the occupant of theenclosure.

In further accord with the present invention, the bottom or mattresspanel and at least portionsof some of the side and end panels areconstructed of at least two sheets of flexible, air-impervious material,secured together so as to define therebetween closed, air-retainingchambers. The bottom or mattress panel, when inflated with air underpressure, thereby forms a resilient surface for the occupant. Theinflated portions of the side and end panels serve to support thesepanels and any sun hood in appropriate relationship to the mattress,thereby completing the enclosure.

A major feature of the present invention is the unitary structure of theinflatable bassinet which, when in the collapsed condition, can befolded into an extremely small and compact size for storage in pocket orpurse, and when inflated, forms a comfortable, safe sleeping enclosurefor infants without any hazardous sharp, rigid support elements.Moreover, the inflated bottom and side panels provide an extremelyeffective cushion against shock in the event of a catastrophe such as anautomobile accident. Not only is the infant protected, but other personsnear or adjacent to the inflated bassinet are also protected from harminflicted by sharp or rigid structural members.

In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the unitary structurecomprises a substantially flat bottom panel having substantially flatside and end panels permanently attached along the edges of the bottompanel and disposed to lie flat in the same plane as the bottom panel.Means are provided to fasten temporarily the adjacent edges of the sideand end panels at right angles to the bottom panel. In the collapsedcondition, this structure may be easily cleaned and easily folded into aneat, compact package. In the inflated condition, temporary fasteningssuch as zippers, snaps, buttons or ties are used to complete theerection of the bassinet.

In accordance with another feature of the present invention, the airchambers are divided into two or more sections, each separate andnoncommunicating with the others in an air flow sense, but yet soclosely and intimately arranged in a special sense that each separatechamber provides structural support for the entire bassinet. A puncturein any one of these chambers therefore does not result in the collapseof the bassinet since the remaining chamber or chambers are adequate bythemselves to support the structure.

These and other objects and features, the nature of the presentinvention and its various advantages, will be more readily understoodupon consideration of the attached drawings and of the followingdetailed description of the drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an inflatable bassinet in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the inflated and erected bassinet shownin plan View in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan View of another inflatable bassinet in accordance withthe present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the inflated and erected bassinet shownin plan view in FIG. 3.

Referring more particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown a plan view of aninflatable bassinet 10, partially assembled, in accordance with thepresent invention. The bassinet 10 comprises a base or mattress panel11, side panels 12 and 13 and end panels 14 and 15. The bassinet 10 isformed of two sheets of nonporous, flexible material such as rubber orplastic having seams 16 and 17 formed by vulcanizing, heat sealing,adhesives, or any other sealing process. Seams 16 and 17 definecompartments or chambers 11% and 19 therebetween which can be filledwith air or other gases under pressure by means of inlet valves 20 and21.

The panels 11 through 15 of the bassinet 10 of FIG. 1 may advantageouslybe formed of two flat sheets of material cut and seamed in the mannershown in FIG. 1. It will be noted that the side panels 12 and 13, andthe end panels 14 and 15, are each joined along one edge to a respectiveone edge of the base or mattress panel 11. In this way, the inflatablebassinet, when deflated, lies flat and in a single plane and thus may beeasily cleaned and folded for storage.

A plurality of holes 22 are provided in enlarged portions of the seam 17along the common edges of the various panels. These holes provideventilation for the bassinet when erected and, moreover, facilitate thefolding of the side and end panels at right angles to -the bottom panel11. A substantial cross section of the air chambers, however, are leftcontinuous through the bottom panel 11 and into the side panels 12 and13 so that, when the bassinet 10 is inflated, the chambers 18 and 19have substantial resistance to deformation. As a result, the side panels12 and 13 exert a force tending to return them to the flat positionshown in FIG. 1. As can be seen more clearly in FIG. 2, this force isutilized to maintain the side and end panels in their vertical positionwhen the bassinet 10 is fully assembled.

The chambers 18 and 19 are completely separated by the seam 17 in orderto provide two separate and completely independent non-communicating airchambers. Moreover, air chambers 18 and 19 are each distributed oversubstantial portions of all of the panels 11 through 15 by means of theserpentine convolutions of seam 17. Should a leak develop in either ofair chambers 18 or 19,

the other chamber continues to hold air and hence continues to supportthe bassinet in its erected position.

The inlet valves and 21 are shown in FIG. 1 as simple mouth-inflatingtubes having stoppers attached thereto. It is clear, however, that anyother form of valve could be used. In particular, valves suitable foruse with compressed carbon dioxide in commercially available cylindersor for use wit-h automobile air pumps could also be provided.

A hood or sunshade 23 is provided in end panel 14 to fully enclose aportion of the erected bassinet. This can be more easily seen in FIG. 2.

In FIG. 2 there is shown a perspective view of the inflatable bassinetof FIG. 1 in its inflated and fully assembled condition. In FIG. 2, thecommon edges 24, 25, 26 and 27 are shown joined together. This may beaccomplished by means of zippers, snaps, ties or any other temporaryjoining means, or may be permanently joined by vulcanizing,heat-treating, adhesives, or any other permanent joining means.Preferably, of course, these edges are joined by temporary fasteningmeans so that the bassinet 10 can be returned to its flat condition asshown in FIG. 1 when deflated. This flat condition sub stantiallysimplifies cleaning and storing.

The sunshade 23 is shown in FIG. 2 in one possible position. Temporaryjoining means along edges 24 and can, in the preferred embodiment, bepartially opened to provide adjustable positioning of sunshade 23. Thus,when it is desired to place an infant in the bassinet 10 or remove theinfant therefrom, sunshade 23 may be turned back to expose substantiallythe entire length of the bassinet. It may thereafter be adjusted asdesired to provide the required shading effect.

As previously noted, the chambers 1% and 19 are continuous through thebottom panel 1-1 and into the side panels 12 and 13. When the bassinetis fully assembled as shown in FIG. 2, the restoring force exerted bythese continuous air chambers tends to spread the side panels 12 and 13away from each other. The joining of the corners 24, 25, 2 6 and 27, ofcourse, prevents the actual movement of these side panels. The spreadingforce, however, prevents the side panels from collapsing inwardly andtherefore maintains the erected bassinet in the desired erected form.

It will be appreciated that it may be desirable to provide a softabsorbent layer of material on the inside surfaces of the bassinet 10for the comfort of the occupant. Such a layer may be bonded to the topsheet of the rubber or plastic material prior to forming the seams inaccordance with well known techniques.

In FIG. 3 there is shown a plan view of another embodiment of thepresent invention comprising a partially assembled bassinet 50 having abase or mattress panel 51, side panels 52 and 53 and end panels 54 and55. As in the case of FIG. 1, the bassinet 50 may be formed of twosheets of nonporous, flexible material such as rubber or plastic havingseams 56 and 57 formed by vulcanizing, heat sealing, adhesives, or anyother form of sealing process. Seams 56 and 57 define compartments orchambers 58 and 59 therebetween which can be filled with air or othergases under pressure by means of inlet valve 60. Interior seams 61divide mattress panel 51 into a series of interior communicatingchambers 62 for better form and greater stability.

As in FIG. 1, the panels 51 through 5 5 of FIG. 3 may advantageously beformed of two flat sheets of material cut and seamed in the manner shownin FIG. 3. Side panels 52 and '53 and end panels 54 and 55 are eachjoined along one edge to a respective one edge of base or mattress panel51. As before, this allows the deflated bassinet 50 to be flat for easyfolding and storage.

A plurality of ventilation holes 63 are provided in side panels 52 and53.

At the point where chambers 18 and 19 pass from the bottom panel 51 tothe side panels 52 and 53, constrictions 64 are provided to facilitatethe folding of the side panels at right angles to the bottom panel 51. Asubstantial cross section of the air chambers, however, is leftcontinuous through the bottom panel 11 and into the side panels 52 and53 so that, when the bassinet 50 is inflated the chambers 58 and 59 havesubstantial resistance to such folding. In this way, the side panels aremaintained in their erected position when the bassinet 50 is completelyinflated and assembled.

The inlet valve is shown in FIG. 3 as a simple mouth-inflating tubehaving a stopper attached thereto. Other means of inflation could beused equally well, and appropriate valve means provided.

The end panel 54 is sulficiently long to form a partial sunshade or hoodwhen the bassinet is assembled as shown in FIG. 4.

In FIG. 4 there is shown a perspective view of the inflatable bassinetof FIG. 3 in its fully inflated and assembled condition. The edges 65,66, 67 and 68 are shown joined together, preferably by means of zippers,snaps, ties or other temporary fastening means. The sunshade 54, atleast, is attached to the side panels 52 and 53 by temporary fasteningmeans so that it can be folded back out of the way when placing aninfant in or taking an infant from the bassinet.

Although only two embodiments of the present invention have beendisclosed in detail, it will be appreciated that many other specificarrangements would serve equally well for the purpose intended. It is tobe understood that the arrangements specifically described are merelyillustrative of the numerous and varied other arrangements which mayform applications of the principles of the invention. Such otherarrangements may readily be devised by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An inflatable bassinet comprising two sheets of nonporous, flexiblematerial cut and seamed to form a base panel and four side panelspermanently joined to each other along the edges of said base panel,said seams forming inflatable chambers in said base panel and at leastsome of said side panels, means for temporarily joining said side panelsto each other at their common edges so as to define an enclosuresurrounding said base panel, at least one of said side panels includinga hood portion, means for temporarily joining said hood portion to atleast one other of said side panels so as to extend over at least aportion of said base panel, and means for introducing gas underpressures into said chambers, the chambers in said base and side panelsbeing in at least partial air communication whereby said gas underpressure in said chambers prevents said side panels from collapsinginwardly onto said base panel.

2. The inflatable bassinet according to claim 1 wherein said airchambers are separated into at least two mutually exclusive aircommunicating groups, the members of said groups chosen such that eachgroup includes chambers from all of said panels, whereby said panelsremain partially inflated despite a puncture in one of said groups.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 573,625 12/1896 Ruffner 5-98 X2,231,108 2/1941 Brady 5'93 X 2,672,628 3/1954 Spanel 5348 3,049,7288/1962 Lund 5--98 X 3,112,956 12/1963 Schick et al 297-219 3,253,8615/1966 Howard -1 297453 CASMIR A, NUNBERG, Primary Examiner.

1. AN INFLATABLE BASSINET COMPRISING TWO SHEETS OF NONPOROUS, FLEXIBLEMATERIAL CUT AND SEAMED TO FORM A BASE PANEL AND FOUR SIDE PANELSPERMANENTLY JOINED TO EACH OTHER ALONG THE EDGES OF SAID BASE PANEL,SAID SEAMS FORMING INFLATABLE CHAMBERS IN SAID BASE PANEL AND AT LEASTSOME OF SAID SIDE PANELS, MEANS FOR TEMPORARILY JOINING SAID SIDE PANELSTO EACH OTHER AT THEIR COMMON EDGES SO AS TO DEFINE AN ENCLOSURESURROUNDING SAID BASE PANEL, AT LEAST ONE OF SAID PANELS INCLUDING AHOOD PORTION, MEANS FOR TEMPORARILY JOINING SAID HOOD PORTION TO ATLEAST ONE OTHER OF SAID SIDE PANELS SO AS TO EXTEND OVER AT LEAST APORTION OF SAID BASE PANEL, AND MEANS FOR IN-